Cedar Valley Business Executive and Philanthropist Offers Scholarships in Hopes of Building Local Workforce.

WATERLOO, Iowa -- Cedar Valley businessman and philanthropist, Russell R. Wasendorf, Sr., has awarded one year, full-ride scholarships to two students at Hawkeye Community College - an investment he knows could pay big dividends in the future. The scholarships were presented to Wes Bro of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Logan Wood from Whittemore, Iowa. Bro and Wood are second-year students in Hawkeye's Information Technology programs. Mr. Wasendorf, chairman and CEO of PFGBEST.com, says his firm is committed to growing its own Information Technology staff.

"We have looked carefully at Hawkeye's program and found that it helps train the caliber of professionals that we are recruiting for our specific needs," said Wasendorf. "Increasingly, we find ourselves in the position of developing new technologies to help our customers, who are individual investors and traders. We hope that this gift through the Hawkeye Community College Foundation will help foster continued development of a highly-skilled, new generation of professionals in the Cedar Valley."

The information sector is the fastest growing service-producing segment, according to the Department of Labor. The need for trained information technology professionals is high, both locally and nationally. Additional demand is expected as telecommunications, software publishing, Internet, and other related services continue to grow.

Peg Brown, executive director of Hawkeye's Foundation stated, "We truly appreciate Mr. Wasendorf's passion for technology and PFGBEST.com's contribution to the community by recognizing students at Hawkeye Community College through the donation of scholarships. We thank him for his very generous support of two full-year scholarships for the educational goals of the students and of Hawkeye Community College. We are so pleased to have his firm located in the Cedar Valley."

Hawkeye Community College has more than 5,700 students. Many students are in the Information Technology programs, which include Computer Network Technology, Information Systems Management, Network Administration and Engineering, and Web Design and Development. For information on Hawkeye's programs, contact Hawkeye's Admissions office at 319-296-4000 or visit Hawkeye's web site at www.hawkeyecollege.edu.

PFGBEST.com is one of the largest non-clearing U.S. futures commission merchants, with customers, affiliates and brokerage offices in more than 80 countries. It offers a diverse range of trading and investor products and services for retail investors as well as for commercial and institutional clients. The company is a leader in managed funds and forex, full-service brokerage, trader education, research, and direct online futures trading through its BEST Direct platform, one of the first to deliver customer orders to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's Globex engine in 1998. PFGBEST.com is building a new headquarters in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Please visit www.pfgbest.com.